I took my car in for servicing last month and the dealer shuttle drove us through the industrial parks of Fort Garry, off Chevrier and into the back streets around there. I was actually surprised to see just how much industry there was in that neighbourhood... much more than I would have thought based on what you see driving down the major streets like McGillivray or Waverley. Large factories, warehouses, everything. We aren't running out of that stuff.

I really like having Great-West Metal still making garbage cans and other products there, just like they did back when they would ship things by boats from the Alexander Docks. I like going into Pollock's or Corydon Hardware and seeing their garbage cans for sale and knowing they're manufactured on Pacific Avenue by the Red River... I guess there's just something settling about all this: feeling rooted to the local, and like the past isn't actually some far away place that's gone forever; that some living fragments of it are still around. So it will be sad if and when they close up operations, even if they relocate outside of downtown.

At the same time, though, this is part of a very very long-term trend of manufacturers moving out of the CBD. And even so, there's still a fair bit of activity happening not just in the suburban industrial/warehouse areas, but not too far way. A drive down parts of Sutherland, Henry, or Dufferin Avenues show there's a lot of smaller-scale, specialized manufacturing operations that don't appear to be slowing down.

To look at this closure/relocation and say 'doesn't Winnipeg make anything anymore?' is a little like seeing retail on Portage Avenue disappear 30-50 years ago and asking 'doesn't Winnipeg buy clothes anymore?'

Right next door to G-W Metal, a new gin distillery is opening soon. Spirit distilleries are something that disappeared from central Winnipeg by the year 1900, I believe. Now, in a very different century and a very different city, this old manufacturing use coming is back.

I really like having Great-West Metal still making garbage cans and other products there, just like they did back when they would ship things by boats from the Alexander Docks. I like going into Pollock's or Corydon Hardware and seeing their garbage cans for sale and knowing they're manufactured on Pacific Avenue by the Red River... I guess there's just something settling about all this: feeling rooted to the local, and like the past isn't actually some far away place that's gone forever; that some living fragments of it are still around. So it will be sad if and when they close up operations, even if they relocate outside of downtown.

At the same time, though, this is part of a very very long-term trend of manufacturers moving out of the CBD. And even so, there's still a fair bit of activity happening not just in the suburban industrial/warehouse areas, but not too far way. A drive down parts of Sutherland, Henry, or Dufferin Avenues show there's a lot of smaller-scale, specialized manufacturing operations that don't appear to be slowing down.

To look at this closure/relocation and say 'doesn't Winnipeg make anything anymore?' is a little like seeing retail on Portage Avenue disappear 30-50 years ago and asking 'doesn't Winnipeg buy clothes anymore?'

Right next door to G-W Metal, a new gin distillery is opening soon. Spirit distilleries are something that disappeared from central Winnipeg by the year 1900, I believe. Now, in a very different century and a very different city, this old manufacturing use coming is back.

I believe the garbage cans are staying! It's my understanding GWM wish to sell the building and lease it back on a long my term basis...

Patent 5 is coming along on Alexander Avenue and hope to be open latter this summer making Gin, Vodka and Rye whiskey. The permit process was very difficult even though it's a concrete building.

Nonsuch beer on Lily is moving along and should be open a little latter this summer as well. Let's push interest into the EGG next! (Edwin, George and Galt) Waterfront North and the Manitoba Film Studios on Gomez is starting to attract new business into the city as well! There is interest for an urban lifestyle but young people need to buy downtown contrary to what their suburban parents might be saying.

I really like having Great-West Metal still making garbage cans and other products there, just like they did back when they would ship things by boats from the Alexander Docks. I like going into Pollock's or Corydon Hardware and seeing their garbage cans for sale and knowing they're manufactured on Pacific Avenue by the Red River... I guess there's just something settling about all this: feeling rooted to the local, and like the past isn't actually some far away place that's gone forever; that some living fragments of it are still around. So it will be sad if and when they close up operations, even if they relocate outside of downtown.

At the same time, though, this is part of a very very long-term trend of manufacturers moving out of the CBD. And even so, there's still a fair bit of activity happening not just in the suburban industrial/warehouse areas, but not too far way. A drive down parts of Sutherland, Henry, or Dufferin Avenues show there's a lot of smaller-scale, specialized manufacturing operations that don't appear to be slowing down.

To look at this closure/relocation and say 'doesn't Winnipeg make anything anymore?' is a little like seeing retail on Portage Avenue disappear 30-50 years ago and asking 'doesn't Winnipeg buy clothes anymore?'

Right next door to G-W Metal, a new gin distillery is opening soon. Spirit distilleries are something that disappeared from central Winnipeg by the year 1900, I believe. Now, in a very different century and a very different city, this old manufacturing use coming is back.

I believe the garbage cans are staying! It's my understanding GWM wish to sell the building and lease it back on a long my term basis...

Patent 5 is coming along on Alexander Avenue and hope to be open latter this summer making Gin, Vodka and Rye whiskey. The permit process was very difficult even though it's a concrete building.

Nonsuch beer on Lily is moving along and should be open a little latter this summer as well. Let's push interest into the EGG next! (Edwin, George and Galt) Waterfront North and the Manitoba Film Studios on Gomez is starting to attract new business into the city as well! There is interest for an urban lifestyle but young people need to buy downtown contrary to what their suburban parents might be saying.

I believe the garbage cans are staying! It's my understanding GWM wish to sell the building and lease it back on a long my term basis...

Patent 5 is coming along on Alexander Avenue and hope to be open latter this summer making Gin, Vodka and Rye whiskey. The permit process was very difficult even though it's a concrete building.

Nonsuch beer on Lily is moving along and should be open a little latter this summer as well. Let's push interest into the EGG next! (Edwin, George and Galt) Waterfront North and the Manitoba Film Studios on Gomez is starting to attract new business into the city as well! There is interest for an urban lifestyle but young people need to buy downtown contrary to what their suburban parents might be saying.

There are many interesting businesses still in these buildings.

theres also the renovations that were ongoing at the kings no idea how that's come along was talk about a southern style bbq joint

Amsterdam Tea room was granted a patio and it's quite large – looks fantastic right adjacent to Old Market Square and along the new bike lane, even though they have crappy furniture (for now at least). Will be interesting to see if Bodegoes get's one out front as well.

This will just make the awful parkade along OMS even more awful, when you see potential like this. Part of me has this fantasy that McKim maybe really cares about the area and will tear down the roof of the parkade to build something there

Needs Centre has taken over the entire main floor of the Lindsay Builidng. They’ve removed all of the Manitoba Start awnings and fully frosted ALL of the windows. Looks brutal with the awnings gone, but considering Needs Centre has decalled the windows with logos, I fear it may stay like that – unless the landlord replaces the awnings.

Needs Centre has taken over the entire main floor of the Lindsay Builidng. They’ve removed all of the Manitoba Start awnings and fully frosted ALL of the windows. Looks brutal with the awnings gone, but considering Needs Centre has decalled the windows with logos, I fear it may stay like that – unless the landlord replaces the awnings.

Really sucks that it’s been completely closed off to the street.

It says something really depressing about this city that office space in this heritage building a stone's throw from the commercial centre of the city could be within the price range of a charity.

Needs Centre has taken over the entire main floor of the Lindsay Builidng. They’ve removed all of the Manitoba Start awnings and fully frosted ALL of the windows. Looks brutal with the awnings gone, but considering Needs Centre has decalled the windows with logos, I fear it may stay like that – unless the landlord replaces the awnings.

Really sucks that it’s been completely closed off to the street.

Needs Centre moved in months ago and the awnings were only taken down this week. No connection -- the building was sold recently and the new owner is doing a bunch of minor renovations, and the awnings seem to be part of that. Their design judgment in the interior renovations has been pretty good, so I hope new awnings are on the way.

The office space is small (just a corner of the main floor) and awkwardly shaped, so I wouldn't read too much into the fact that it sat vacant for so long.

Amsterdam Tea Room's patio license kicked in today and it is now open.

Cordova is currently building a patio that is on the sidewalk and wraps around into the Woodbine parking lot. Great addition. The area around OMS is (going to be) bustling now, with patios all around it. Fantastic.